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THE  MISSIONARY  ARGUMENT 


A SERMON 

BEFORE  THE  BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS 
OF  THE  DOMESTIC  AND  FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY 

PHILADELPHIA,  MAT  11,  ISM. 


[Second  Edition.] 


THE  MISSIONARY  SPIRIT: 


INTRODUCTORY  TO 

THE  EPISCOPAL  MISSIONARY  LECTURE; 

BOSTON,  NOVEMBER  27,  1831. 


[ Second  Edition.] 


Have  mercy  upon  all  Jews,  Turks,  in- 
fidels and  heretics,  and  take  from  them 
all  ignorance,  hardness  of  heart,  and 
contempt  of  thy  word,  and  so  fetch 
them  home,  blessed  Lord,  to  thy  flock, 
that  they  may  be  saved  among  the 
remnant  of  the  true  Israelites,  and 
be  made  one  fold  under  one  Shep- 
herd, Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 


THE  MISSIONARY  ARGUMENT: 

BY 

GEORGE  W.  DOANE,  A.M., 

ASSISTANT  MINISTER  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH,  BOSTON. 

BOSTON,  PRINTED  : M DCCC  XXX. 

BURLINGTON,  N.  J.  REPRINTED:  M DCCC  IXI7. 


J.  L.  POWELL;  MISSIONARY  PRESS. 


How  then  shall  they  call  on 
him  in  whom  they  have  not 
believed  ? And  how  shall  they 
believe  in  him  of  whom  they 
have  not  heard?  And  how 
shall  they  hear  without  a prea- 
cher? And  how  shall  they 
preach  except  they  be  sent  ? 


TIIE  MISSIONARY  ARGUMENT. 


ST.  MARK,  XVI. — IS. 

GO  YE  INTO  All  THE  WORLD,  AND  PREACH  THE  GOSPEL  TO  EVERY  CREATURE. 

This  was  the  parting  precept  of  the  Saviour  of  mankind.  He 
came  into  the  world  that  all,  even  as  many  as  should  believe  in  him, 
should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.  During  all  his  pain- 
ful sojourning  on  earth  he  proclaimed  himself,  in  word  and  in  deed, 
the  light  of  the  world . And  he  died,  that  he  might  be  the  propitia- 
tion for  our  sins,  and  not  for  ours  only,  but  for  the  sins  of  the 
whole  world.  In  perfect  and  entire  consistency,  then,  with  the 
original  purpose  of  his  incarnation,  with  the  teaching  and  practice 
of  his  life,  with  the  motive  and  object  of  his  death,  was  the  parting 
precept  of  the  Saviour, — Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach 
the  gospel  to  every  crlature  ! It  was  addressed  originally  to 
the  Apostles ; and  the  same  page  which  records  it,  records  also 
their  prompt,  implicit,  and  persevering  obedience — they  went  forth, 
and  preached  every  where,  the  Lord  working  ivith  them,  and  con- 
firming the  word  with  signs  following.  Did  they  fulfil  the  Sa- 
viour’s precept?  Was  the  Gospel  preached  by  them?o  every  crea- 
ture? Alas,  no!  They  were  but  mortal  men.  And  though  they 
gave  themselves,  body  and  spirit,  to  the  work,  they  did  but  sow 
the  precious  seed,  before  they  were  compelled,  by  cruel  persecu- 
tion, to  enrich  it  with  their  blood.  The  work  which  they  began, 
they  entrusted  to  faithful  men,  with  power  to  send  others  after  them  ; 
so  that  from  their  time  until  now  the  sacred  line  has  never  once 
been  broken,  nor  the  divine  husbandry  been  interrupted,  nor  the 
vineyard  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  ceased  to  extend  to  all  valleys  its  gra- 
cious roots,  and  to  spread  over  all  hills  its  comfortable  shadow,  and 
to  extend  to  nation  after  nation,  and  to  kingdom  after  kingdom,  its 
life-sustaining,  life-restoring  cup.  Still,  is  the  Saviour’s  purpose 
yet  accomplished  ? Has  it  yet  gone  into  all  the  world?  Is  the 


6 


Gospel  yet  preached  to  every  creature?  Alas,  no!  There  are 
myriads  of  human  hearts  that  are  fainting  for  the  protection  of  its 
shadow.  There  are  millions  of  immortal  souls  that  are  perishing 
for  the  refreshment  of  its  cup  of  life. 

Why  is  it  so  ? 

Ought  it  to  be  so  ? 

Shall  it  continue  to  be  so  ? 

I.  Why  is  it  so  ? Are  the  means  which  God  has  appointed  for 
the  extension  of  his  kingdom  inadequate  to  the  result?  Is  his  car 
heavy , that  it  cannot  hear?  Or  his  hand  shortened , that  it  cannot 
save?  The  supposition  is  alike  injurious  to  his  power  and  wisdom, 
his  holiness  and  goodness.  He  has  proclaimed  the  everlasting 
Gospel.  He  has  founded  the  universal  Church.  The  leaves  of 
the  one  are  given  for  the  healing  of  the  nations.  The  gates  of 
the  other  are  open  to  kingdoms,  and  tongues,  and  kindreds,  and 
people.  In  her  divinely  instituted,  and  perpetuated  ministry,  the 
glorious  vision  of  the  Seer  of  the  Apocalypse  is  realized — and  I 
saw  another  angel  fly  in  the  midst  of  heaven , having  the  everlast- 
ing Gospel  to  preach  unto  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth,  and  to 
every  nation,  and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people,  saying  with  a 
loud  voice,  fear  God,  and  give  glory  to  him;  for  the  hour  of  his 
judgment  has  come!  In  her  divinely  instituted  and  perpetuated 
sacraments,  the  gracious  voice,  that,  on  the  Isle  of  Patmos,  won 
his  favoured  ear,  addresses  all  mankind — the  Spirit  and  the  Bride 
say,  come!  and  let  him  that  heareth,  say  to  his  neighbour,  come! 
and  let  him  that  is  athirst  come!  and  whosoever  will,  let  him  take 
the  ivater  of  life  freely  ! Why  then,  the  question  returns — why, 
since  God  has  made  provision  so  ample  for  the  spiritual  wants  of 
all,  his  holy  Church  freely  opened,  his  holy  word  freely  offered, 
why  is  it  that  all  are  not  participants  of  its  precious  privileges,  sub- 
jects of  its  constraining  love,  heirs  of  its  immortal  hopes?  The 
noble  argument  of  the  great  first  Missionary  to  the  Gentiles  will 
supply  our  answer.  True,  he  says,  whosoever  shall  call  on  the 
name  of  the  Lord  shall  be  saved.  For  the  same  Lord  over  all,  is 
rich  unto  all  that  call  upon  him,  and  there  is  no  difference  between 
the  Jew  and  the  Greek.  But  how  shall  they  call  on  him  in  whom 
they  have  not  believed?  And  how  shall  they  believe  in  him  of 
whom  they  have  not  heard?  And  how  shall  they  hear  without  a 


7 


preacher  ? And  how  shall  they  preach  except  they  be  sent  ? Alas  ! 
brethren,  that  it  should  be  so— but  so  it  is — the  lapse  of  nearly  two 
thousand  years  has  abated  scarce  a single  jot  from  this  unanswer- 
able apostolic  reasoning  for  the  claims  of  Missions.  There  are  yet 
whole  nations,  and  I had  almost  said  whole  continents,  of  them 
who  call  not  npon  God  because  they  do  not  believe  on  him,  who 
believe  not  on  him  because  they  never  heard  of  him,  who  cannot 
hear  of  him  without  a preacher,  and  who  can  have  no  preacher  un- 
less he  shall  be  sent.  And  there  are  others,  countless  others,  of 
our  flesh  and  of  our  bone,  who,  though,  in  the  pleasant  land  of 
their  fathers  they  may  have  heard  of  God,  and,  even  among  the 
heathen  who  know  him  not,  or  the  wicked  who  disregard  him,  do 
still  believe  in  him  and  fear  him,  are  losing,  as  the  rainbow  fades, 
the  impressions  which  even  we,  with  all  our  means  of  grace,  so 
faintly  and  so  feebly  hold,  and,  far  from  home,  and  all  its  holy  and 
delightful  sympathies,  are  longing  till  their  very  heart  is  sick  with- 
in them,  for  those  sacred  ministrations  of  comfort  and  of  hope, 
which,  without  a preacher  they  cannot  have,  and  to  whom  no 
preacher  can  go  unless  he  shall  be  sent.  The  subject,  then,  you 
see,  my  Christian  brethren,  is  brought  home  to  us — to  you,  and  to 
me — and,  when  we  ask,  why  it  is  that  souls  are  perishing  for  lack 
of  saving  knowledge,  it  becomes  us  also  to  ask, — and  that  solemnly, 
and  anxiously,  as  in  the  presence  of  Him  who  has  declared,  all 
souls  are  mine — are  we  doing  what  we  can  for  their  relief?  Have 
we  given  according  to  the  ability  with  which  God  has  blessed  us  ? 
Have  we  exerted,  in  the  furtherance  of  his  own  cause,  the  ability 
and  influence  with  which  God  has  endowed  us  ? Have  we  poured 
out  upon  it — this  at  least  all  of  us  can  do,  and  God  forbid  that  any 
of  us  should  not ! — have  we  poured  out  upon  it,  warm  from  the 
heart,  our  fondest  and  most  fervent  prayers  ? If  it  be  not  so,  if  for 
Christ’s  own  cause,  the  cause  in  which  he  shed  his  precious  blood, 
the  Christian’s  wealth,  the  Christian’s  efforts,  the  Christian’s  prayers 
are  stinted,  there  needs,  assuredly,  no  further  question  why  it  does 
not  triumph,  to  God’s  glory,  and  the  good  of  men. 

II.  But  we  ask,  secondly,  ought  it  to  be  so  ? Is  there  any  thing 
that  can  excuse  the  believer  for  being  a laggard  in  his  Master’s  ser- 
vice ? Let  us  speak  plainly  out ! — the  occasion  calls  for  plainness 
— is  it  possible  that  he  can  be  sincere  in  his  profession  of  the  Chris- 


8 


tian  faith,  who  hesitates  to  promote,  to  the  utmost  of  his  ability,  re- 
membering that  to  God  the  heart  is  as  open  as  the  hand,  the  ex- 
tension of  its  privileges  and  blessings  to  all  who  have  them  not  at 
all,  or  who  have  them  in  inferior  measure  to  himself?  We  answer 
boldly,  no!  And  we  rest  our  answer  on  the  warrant  of  God’s  word 
— he  that  loveth  not  his  brother  whom  he  hath  seen,  how  can  he 
love  God  whom  he  hath  not  seen?  And,  again,  whoso  hath  this 
world ’s  goods,  and  seeth  his  brother  have  need,  and  shutteth  up 
his  compassion  from  him,  how  dwelleth  the  love  of  God  in  him  ? 
— For  consider,  I beseech  you,  brethren,  the  worth,  as  God  him- 
self has  rated  it,  even  of  a single  soul ; — what  shall  it  profit  a man, 
if  he  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own  soul? — Consider, 
next,  the  state  of  all  souls  by  nature  ; — we  have  all  sinned,  and 
come  short  of  the  glory  of  God.  When  we  have  done  all,  we  are 
unprofitable  servants.  There  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one! 
— Consider,  then,  the  sure  punishment  of  sin; — the  soul  that  sin- 
neth,  it  shall  die.  Indignation  and  wrath,  tribulation  and  anguish 
upon  every  soul  of  man  that  doeth  evil! — Take  then  into  considera- 
tion the  price  at  which  all  souls  were  ransomed  ;—God  so  loved  the 
world,  that  he  gave  his  only-begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth 
in  him,  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life — who  bare  our 
sins  in  his  own  body  on  the  tree — and,  by  the  grace  of  God,  tasted 
death  for  every  man! — Consider,  lastly,  the  conditions  of  the  law 
of  Gospel  love  ; — thou  shalt  love  thy'neighbour  as  thyself.  Look 
not  every  man  on  his  own  things,  but  every  man  also  on  the  things 
of  others— for  no  man  liveth  to  himself,  and  no  man  dieth  to  him- 
self. Bear  ye  one  another's  burdens,  and  so  fulfil  the  law  of 
Christ.  For  we,  being  many,  are  one  body  in  Christ,  and  every 
one  members  one  of  another ! Consider  well,  my  brethren,  this 
affecting  exhibition  of  true  Christian  fellowship,  as  a relation  so  in- 
timate that  the  vitality  of  its  union  can  only  be  expressed  by  repre- 
senting Jesus  as  the  head,  the  Church  as  his  body,  and  individual 
Christians  as  members  in  particular,  one  in  feeling  and  interest, 
one  in  joy  and  grief,  one  in  fears  and  hopes ; and  then  say,  if  the 
love  of  Christ  should  not — nay,  if,  where  it  exists  in  purity  and 
power,  it  certainly  will  not — constrain  all  who  breathe  and  feel  it, 
to  the  same  anxiety,  the  same  exertions,  the  same  intense,  unspar- 
ing, and  agonizing  devotion  for  the  salvation  of  other  souls  as  of 


9 


their  own  ! Say,  finally,  if  that  man  who  has  neglected  any  effort, 
spared  of  his  perishable  treasure,  or  remitted  in  his  effectual,  fer- 
vent intercession  for  the  souls  of  all  mankind,  and  much  more  of 
those  who  fall  within  the  sphere  of  his  immediate  influence,  can 
justly  entertain  the  slightest  hope  of  acceptance  with  Him,  who 
has  declared  that  he  will  judge  all  men  according  as  they  have 
judged,  and  by  that  strict,  yet  equitable,  rule,  of  doing  unto  others 
as  they  would  have  others  do  to  them  ! 

III.  Having  seen  clearly  why  it  is  that  the  extension  of  the  Sa- 
viour’s kingdom  upon  earth  has  been,  and  is,  so  slow  ; and  that,  by 
every  principle  of  Christian  duty  and  of  Christian  charity,  it  ought 
not  so  to  be,  we  are  prepared  for  our  third  question — Shall  it  con- 
tinue to  be  so?  That  the  march  of  our  religion  shall  go  on,  that 
the  triumphs  of  Christianity  shall  continue  and  increase  in  glory, 
that  the  kingdom  of  the  Saviour  shall  not  be  stayed,  as  it  were,  in 
mid-air,  but  shall  come  down  to  earth,  and  spread  its  peaceful  sway 
from  the  one  end  of  it  to  the  other,  filling  it  all  with  the  glory  of 
God , as  the  waters  cover  the  sea,  enabling  all  to  know  the  Lord, 
from  the  least  to  the  greatest,  and  pouring  into  all  hearts  the  bless- 
ing of  peace,  quietness  and  assurance  forever,  is  among  the  clear- 
est convictions  to  which  the  word  of  God  gives  warrant.  God’s 
work,  then,  will  go  on.  His  cause  will  prosper.  Christianity 
will  triumph.  And  our  question  is  thus  narrowed  down  to  this — 
shall  his  work  be  done  by  us  ? Shall  his  cause  prosper  in  our 
hands?  Shall  we  share  in  the  triumphs  and  partake  the  glories  of 
the  Cross?  Or,  laggards  in  our  exertions,  and  niggards  of  our 
bounty,  in  the  day  of  trial  and  of  toil,  shall  we  be  rejected  in  that 
day  when  the  spoils  of  victory  shall  be  divided,  and  its  glorious 
golden  crowns  bestowed  ? For,  brethren,  understand  me  well.  I 
come  not  here  to  summon  you  to  duties,  which,  with  unwilling 
hand,  you  may,  upon  compulsion,  do.  I come  not  here  to  call  on 
you  for  sacrifices,  which,  with  reluctant  heart,  you  may  surrender 
by  constraint.  But,  no ! I come  to  lead  your  free  and  fervent 
spirits  to  the  most  glorious  and  inviting  enterprize  of  which  mortals 
ever  were  allowed  to  hear;  to  give  you  the  offer  of  privileges  which 
no  price  can  estimate,  and  of  rewards  which  will  endure  forever; 
to  ask  you  but  to  turn  the  light  of  that  blessed  Gospel,  which 
cheers  and  guides  your  way,  towards  the  groping  multitudes  that 
2 


10 


wander  on  in  darkness,  and  the  shadow  of  the  grave,  and  to  tell 
you  that  God  has  declared,  that  they  who  thus  turn  sinners  to 
righteousness,  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament,  and 
as  the  stars  forever  and  forever.  And,  though  I repeat  it,  that  Je- 
sus Christ  will  have  nothing  of  you  in  this  behalf  as  matter  of  mere 
necessity  and  duty,  nothing  which  is  not  won  from  you  by  the 
soft  persuasion  of  your  constraining  love  of  him,  nothing  that  is 
not  done  by  you  for  his  sake  and  for  the  love  of  souls  ; and  that  all 
that  is  so  given  and  done  will  be  acknowledged  and  rewarded  as 
given  and  done  to  him,  inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  unto  the  least  of 
these,  my  brethren,  ye  did  unto  me; — 1 am  also  bound  to  add,  that 
he  will  frown  in  his  indignant  anger,  and  repel  from  him  forever, 
all  those,  who,  disregarding  the  cry  of  the  poor,  darkened  souls 
for  whom  he  died,  shall  in  effect  despise  his  Cross,  and  disregard 
the  offering  of  his  blood — verily  I say  unto  you,  inasmuch  as  ye 
did  it  not  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these,  my  brethren,  ye  did  it  not 
unto  me.  And  these  shall  go  away  into  everlasting  punishment, 
but  the  righteous  into  life  eternal. 

My  Christian  brethren,  in  coming  before  you  to-night  as  the  ad- 
vocate of  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the 
Church,  I am  well  aware  that  with  some — of  you  we  are  persuaded 
better  things — the  office  is  unhonoured,  and  the  errand  thankless; 
— that,  to  the  infidel,  the  whole  Missionary  scheme  is  odious; — 
and  that  there  are  even  Christians  who  will  abate  somewhat  from 
their  estimate  of  his  discretion  and  intelligence,  who  bears  and 
owns  a love  and  zeal  for  Missions.  But  1 remember,  and  am  not 
discouraged,  that  the  Cross  of  Jesus  was  to  the  Jews  a stumbling 
block,  and  to  the  Greeks  foolishness.  1 remember,  and  am  not 
discouraged,  that  Paul,  for  his  Christian  earnestness  and  boldness, 
was  accounted  mad.  And  that  with  the  heathen  of  the  first  ages  of 
the  Church,  it  was  a current  taunt,  “a  very  good  man  that,  only 
he  is  a Christian  !”  Now,  from  the  infidel,  these  things  are  rea- 
sonably to  be  expected.  He  has  declared  war  against  Christianity, 
and  he  is,  of  course,  opposed  to  all  that  is  part  and  parcel  of  it; 
and  with  a degree  of  violence  exactly  in  proportion  to  its  intrinsic 
excellence,  and  its  importance  to  the  cause.  But,  when  the  re- 
proach is  heard  from  Christian  lips,  is  it  from  ignorance — an  igno- 
rance, how  needless  and  unpardonable! — or  is  it  from  entire  and 


11 


utter  selfishness,  hardening  the  heart,  till  it  can  6eek  to  save  of  the 
perishable  dross  of  earth,  even  at  the  price  of  other  souls,  and  of 
its  own  ? For,  brethren,  what  is  the  meaning  of  this  mystic  and 
misrepresented  term?  What  is  a Mission?  What  is  a Missiona- 
ry? What  is  the  Missionary  enterprize  ? — Was  not  the  Son  of 
God  the  great  first  Missionary,  from  the  bosom  of  his  Father,  to 
our  fallen  race?  Is  not  the  world  one  great,  dark,  devious  Mis- 
sionary field?  Were  not  the  holy  city,  the  hill  of  Calvary,  the 
mountain  Olivet,  the  earliest  Missionary  stations?  Are  not  the 
ministers  of  Jesus  Missionaries  all?  And  is  not  our  religion  all  a 
Mission — a message,  so  denominated  by  the  angels,  of  glad  tidings 
to  all  people — a mission  sent  from  heaven,  the  endearing  proof  of 
God’s  paternal  love — a mission  sent  to  men,  his  erring  children,  to 
guide  their  feet  here  in  the  way  of  peace,  and  lead  them  through 
the  darkness  of  the  grave  to  happiness  in  heaven? — And  is  the 
Missionary  enterprize,  then,  an  idle  undertaking?  Is  the  name  of 
Missionary  a dishonourable  name  ? Is  it  a reproach  to  be  the  friend, 
the  advocate,  the  humblest  of  the  servants  of  Missions? — Then 
welcome  dishonour,  if  it  be  incurred  in  Jesus’  cause!  Welcome 
reproach,  if  it  be  shared  with  Luke  and  Barnabas  and  Paul!  God 
forbid  that  we  should  glory,  save  in  the  Cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ!  God  forbid  that  we  should  count  labour  unwelcome,  or 
reproach  opprobrious,  or  our  life  itself  dear  unto  us,  so  we  may  but 
proclaim  to  sinners,  poor  and  needy,  the  unsearchable  riches  of  the 
Gospel  of  Christ ! 

It  ought  not  to  be  withheld  that  there  is,  by  those  who  discoun- 
tenance the  cause  of  Missions — strange  indeed  that  in  a Christian 
land  there  should  be  any  such  ! — some  show  of  seeming  argument. 
For,  say  they,  if  the  heathen  have  not  the  Gospel,  or  if  some  Chris- 
tians live  less  in  the  light  of  it  than  others,  then  they  have  less  to 
answer  for;  since  a God  of  justice  and  of  mercy  will  never  judge 
them  by  a rule  of  which  they  could  not  know.  We  account  as 
highly  as  they  can  of  the  justice  and  of  the  goodness  of  God.  We 
believe,  and  we  tremble  to  believe  it,  that  the  rule  of  His  judgment 
will  strictly  be,  of  him  to  whom  much  is  given  much  will  be  re- 
quired. We  doubt  not  that  in  every  nation  he  who  feareth  God 
and  worketh  righteousness  will  be  accepted  with  Him.  But  we 
repeat  with  emphasis  the  searching  and  decisive  question  which 


12 


has  been  often  asked  before,  where,  in  a heathen  nation,  is  he  found 
who  feareth  God  and  worketh  righteousness?  We  ask,  if,  in  our 
high,  meridian,  Gospel  day,  there  is  too  much  light  upon  the  path 
of  duty,  or  the  bed  of  death?  And  we  ask,  if,  with  all  the  advan- 
tages and  consolations  which  he  enjoys,  the  Christian  scarcely  be 
saved,  how  shall  the  poor  heathen,  or  the  half  enlightened  convert, 
or  the  forest  exile  from  his  father’s  home  and  house  of  prayer,  pre- 
pare to  meet  his  God?  But  the  argument  proves  too  much,  and  so 
proves  nothing.  It  might  with  as  much  reason  be  contended  that 
the  whole  world  needed  not  the  Gospel — that  God  has  sent  his 
Son  to  die  for  men  who  might  have  been  saved  as  well  without 
the  sacrifice — and  that  the  Holy  Spirit,  poured  out  from  heaven  to 
sanctify  the  faithful,  is  poured  out  all  to  waste.  My  brethren,  it  is 
not  so.  The  heathen,  bowing  down  to  wood  and  stone,  are  per- 
ishing for  lack  of  knowledge.  Our  brethren,  pioneers  of  civiliza- 
tion and  of  the  Church,  are  languishing  in  sorrow  for  the  want  of 
spiritual  light  and  spiritual  consolation.  Even  in  the  midst  of  us, 
the  poor  are  famishing  for  the  bread,  and  thirsting  for  the  water,  of 
life. 

Now  surely,  brethren,  if  these  things  are  so,  and  if  they  are  of 
concern  to  us,  they  are  of  urgent  concern,  they  press  for  our  imme- 
diate attention,  there  is  no  time  to  be  lost.  While  we  are  thinking, 
or,  perhaps,  not  thinking,  of  the  matter,  thousands  of  heathens  are 
going  down  to  the  grave,  without  a ray  of  hope  to  light  its  passage ; 
and  others,  who,  in  better  days  have  known  and  valued  the  con- 
solations of  religion,  are  falling  from  their  hold  upon  its  precious 
truths, — are  fainting  and  dying,  alone  and  unconsoled.  And  besides, 
brethren,  let  it  not  be  forgotten,  our  own  time  is  short.  While  we 
have  opportunity,  then,  let  us  do  good.  What  we  do  we  must  do 
quickly,  for  there  is  no  work,  nor  device,  nor  knowledge,  nor  wis- 
dom, in  the  grave,  to  which  we  hasten. 

In  the  plea  which  I have  thus  sought  to  urge  before  you  in  be- 
half of  Missions,  I have  not  recognized  any  distinction  of  foreign 
or  domestic  operations.  Why  should  I?  Is  not  the  field,  the 
world?  Let  every  man  choose  his  portion  of  it  to  reap  for  the 
Lord’s  garner.  Only  let  all  choose  some.  Whatever  is  done, 
is  done  for  God’s  glory,  and  the  good  of  souls.  Done  with  a sin- 
gle eye  to  those  great  ends,  God  will  accept  it,  and  bless  it  with  in- 


crease.  The  Society  which  claims  our  prayers  wisely  and  happily 
combines  in  one  the  foreign  and  the  domestic  interest.  God  forbid 
that  they  should  ever  be  divided  ! God  forbid  that  where  his  bles- 
sed Son  made  no  distinction,  we  should  think  it  needful ! He  died 
alike  for  all  the  souls  of  men.  God  forbid  that  our  bounty,  our  la- 
bours, our  intercessions  should  not  also  comprehend  them  all ! In- 
dividual designation,  and  the  force  of  circumstances,  may  give  to 
the  one  object  or  to  the  other  occasional  predominance.  But  the 
constraining  love  of  Jesus  is  a motive  which  prompts  alike  to  both, 
and  both  look  but  to  a common  end,  the  salvation  of  sinners  for 
whom  Jesus  died.  With  “ ample  room,  and  verge  enough”  in 
each  direction,  to  engage  us  all,  let  us  give  to  each  its  full  propor- 
tion of  our  best  and  most  disinterested  zeal.  Ages  must  pass,  even 
were  the  whole  strength  of  Christendom  brought  out,  before  the 
fulness  of  the  Gentiles  can  come  in.  Generations  must  be  num- 
bered before  the  Church,  in  her  best  human  enterprize,  can  over- 
take, with  her  Master’s  holy  word’and  ordinances,  the  rapid  march 
of  civilization  towards  the  ocean  of  the  West. 

Meanwhile,  what  are  we,  Protestant  Episcopalians,  doing  in  this 
great  cause  of  God  and  man?  What  regions  of  the  dark  Pagan 
world  have  we  undertaken  to  enlighten?  What  portion  of  our 
own  vast  wilderness  have  we  pledged  ourselves  to  reclaim?  On 
what  part  of  the  dreary  African  coast  are  our  Missionary  stations 
set,  as  light-bearers  to  the  degraded  Ethiopian?  Where,  in  the 
barren  wastes  of  Asia,  or  in  our  own  magnificent  and  verdant  woods, 
is  the  voice  of  our  Missionary  heard,  speaking  peace  to  the  sorrow- 
ing, and  pardon  to  the  sinful  soul?  What  is  the  number  of  socie- 
ties, to  spread  the  Gospel  to  all  who  have  it  not,  that,  like  a con- 
stellation, gladden  with  their  concentrated  glory  all  our  land?  And 
by  what  sums,  in  thousands  and  in  tens  of  thousands,  is  their  in- 
come told? — Had  these  questions  been  asked  twelve  months  ago,  I 
must  have  hung  my  head  to  answer  them.  I must  have  told  you, 
that  in  all  the  world,  Christian  or  heathen,  there  was  not  an  effort 
making  that  deserved  the  name,  which  had  its  origin  with  us ; and 
must  have  been  compelled  to  the  confession,  full  of  sorrow  and  of 
shame,  that  the  average  annual  income  of  the  only  institution  in  the 
whole  American  Church  for  general  Missionary  purposes,  had  been, 
in  the  last  nine  years,  but  fifteen  hundred  dollars  ! But,  blessed 


14 


be  the  name  of  God,  a day  of  better  things  has  dawned  ! The 
favour  of  the  Holy  One  has  crowned  with  signal  mercy  the  exer- 
tions which  his  own  gracious  Spirit  has  put  it  into  the  hearts  of  the 
faithful  servants  of  his  Church  to  make.  The  adoption  of  a plan, 
not  more  to  be  admired  for  its  beautiful  simplicity,  than  for  its  com- 
prehensiveness and  power,  has  breathed  into  the  seat  of  central  life 
a new  vitality,  and  sent  to  every  limb,  and  member,  and  organ  of 
the  whole  frame  a more  intense,  concentrated  and  vigorous  action. 
There  is  the  beginning  of  an  organization  made,  which  soon,  we 
fondly  trust,  will  be  commensurate  with  our  whole  communion ; and 
like  the  circumambient  air,  while,  by  its  moderate  and  equal  pres- 
sure, it  is  nowhere  felt,  shall  stimulate  to  healthful  and  enduring 
energy  the  universal  system,  even  in  its  minutest  portions.  The 
reproach  is  wiped  away — thank  God  ! the  reproach  is  wiped  away 
— that  Protestant  Episcopalians  are  indifferent  to  the  extension  of 
the  blessings  of  the  Gospel; — I do  not  say  to  their  brethren  and 
immediate  neighbours  alone, — but  to  any,  to  all,  who  have  them 
not.  The  spirit  of  Missions  has  gone  abroad.  We  mark  its  first, 
we  frankly  own  its  faintest  symptom,  in  the  replenishing  treasury 
of  the  Lord.  I say,  its  faintest  symptom.  For,  needful  as  the  gold 
is  and  the  silver  to  the  preaching  of  the  priceless  Gospel,  these  are 
not  the  ends  to  which  we  look,  nor  the  results  for  which  we  labour, 
nor  the  blessings  for  which  we  pray.  No  ! — there  are  treasures 
far  more  rare,  far  more  precious,  far  more  desirable.  The  heart, 
filled  with  the  love  of  God  and  man,  prompting  the  gift,  the  act,  the 
prayer  of  charity — this  is  the  choicest  jewel,  out  of  the  mediatorial 
diadem  of  Jesus.  The  spirit  of  Missions,  the  spirit  of  celestial,  of 
evangelical  love,  the  flame  enkindled  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  Sancti- 
fier— this  is  the  ray  by  which,  as  gold  is  ripened  in  the  mine,  such 
hearts  are  formed.  Give  it  free  course,  then,  brethren,  that  it  may 
be  fully  glorified!  Prompt  it  by  wish,  and  word,  and  act.  Seek 
its  promotion  by  the  kindling  breath  of  fervent  prayer,  till  it  fill  all 
hearts,  and  burn  in  every  soul.  It  will  pour  you  out  treasures  freely, 
as  the  water  is  poured  out  from  heaven.  It  will  do  more  than 
this.  It  will  pour  you  out  hearts — hearts  like  the  martyr  Stephen’s, 
filled  full  with  faith  and  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  labour  in  the 
work  of  saving  souls,  to  bear  every  where  the  word  and  bread  of 
life,  to  live  and  die,  true  Christian  soldiers,  beneath  the  banner  of 
the  Cross. 


15 


My  Christian  brethren,  the  spirit  of  Missions  is  the  spirit  of  our 
religion — emphatically,  it  is  the  spirit  of  our  Church.  It  fired  the 
Apostles’  hearts  at  first  to  plant  it.  It  ever  since  has  fired  the  hearts 
of  their  successors  to  tend  and  water  it.  It  has  been  kept  like  a 
pure  vestal  flame  upon  the  altars  of  the  Church  of  England.  It 
sent  her  Middleton  and  Heberto  India.  It  has  carried  her  evange- 
lists and  teachers  wherever  the  foot  of  man  has  trod.  It  brought 
to  the  land  which  we  inherit,  and  inhabit,  the  faith  and  worship  in 
which  our  souls  rejoice.  Friends,  brethren,  and  fathers,  shall  we 
not  acknowledge,  shall  we  not  repay  the  pious  debt?  Shall  we  not 
transmit  to  others,  and  still  to  others,  even  to  generations  unnum- 
bered and  unborn,  the  rich  inheritance  which  we  enjoy?  Let  us 
arise,  then,  in  the  strength  and  name  of  God,  and  gird  ourselves, 
like  men,  for  the  performance  of  this  most  glorious,  this  most 
charitable  work!  The  experience  of  the  year  just  closed  demon- 
strates that  there  is  not  wanting  the  ability,  nor  yet  the  inclination 
to  discharge  it.  It  is  knowledge  that  we  need — it  is  system — it  is 
union,  and  purpose,  and  untiring  perseverance  in  action.  The  plan 
before  us  offers  them.  Its  success,  thus  far,  gives  pledge  and  prom- 
ise of  its  future  efficacy.  Let  us  accept,  let  11s  pursue,  the  glorious, 
the  auspicious  omen.  For  Zion's  sake  let  us  not  hold  our  peace , 
and  for  Jerusalem’s  sake  let  us  not  rest,  until  the  righteousness 
thereof  go  forth  as  brightness,  and  the  salvation  thereof  as  a lamp 
that  burneth!  Above  all,  brethren  and  fathers,  let  us  pour  out  be- 
fore the  Giver  of  increase  our  fervent  and  untiring  prayers,  that  he 
would  be  pleased  to  make  his  ways  known  unto  all  men,  his  saving 
health  to  all  nations ; — that  the  light  of  his  glorious  Gospel  may 
shine  unto  all  lands,  and  that,  “ all  who  receive  it  may  live  as  be- 
comes it;  ” — that  He  would  “ have  mercy  upon  all  Jews,  Turks, 
Infidels,  and  heretics,  and  take  from  them  all  ignorance,  hardness 
of  heart,  and  contempt  of  his  word,  and  so  fetch  them  home  to  his 
flock,  that  they,”  and  we,  may  be  saved  with  the  remnant  of  the 
true  Israelites,  and  made  one  fold  under  the  “one  ” great  “Shep- 
herd, Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  ! ” 


Let  the  light  of  the 
Gospel  shine  upon  all 
nations,  and  may  as 
many  as  have  received 
it,  live  as  becomes  it. 


